Her death has drawn condolences from across Africa and the international community.
The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, extended sympathies to her family and to the people of Rwanda.
The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Souef Mohamed El-Amine, also expressed sorrow over her passing, describing her as a leader dedicated to building connections between people from Kigali to the United Nations.
Dr. Kacyira's career spanned senior roles both in Rwanda and abroad. She served as a Member of Parliament from 2003 to 2006 before becoming Mayor of Kigali from 2006 to 2011. She was then appointed Governor of the Eastern Province, serving briefly in that capacity.
During her tenure as Mayor of Kigali, she was recognised in 2008 by UN-Habitat for transforming the city into a model of cleanliness, tranquillity, and sustainable development.
Her efforts also included promoting affordable housing and creating accessible job opportunities for residents.
From 2011 to 2018, Dr. Kacyira was the Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat. She also held the role of Project Director in Rwanda's Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and worked with international organisations such as Oxfam and Care International.
In 2020, she was appointed Rwanda's Ambassador to Ghana, with concurrent accreditation to Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia. In 2023, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed her Head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), a position she held until her passing.
Dr. Kacyira held a master's degree in Veterinary Science in Animal Production and Economics from James Cook University in Australia, and a bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University in Uganda.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/amb-aissa-kirabo-kacyira-dies-at-61
